Parkhead manager Ronny Deila and the scouting team are casting their net across the globe in the bid to secure fresh talent.

Crepulja, who plays for Slaven Belupo in the Croatian top flight, is among the latest to have been noted.

Celtic are taking an increasing interest in the Eastern European market with Jozo Simunovic signed from Dinamo Zabreb at the beginning of the season.

Serbian defender Aleksandar Pantic has been watched in person by Deila, while HJK Rijeka midfielder Ivan Mocinic is on the radar.

Record Sport has been told by sources in Belupo’s base Koprivnica that midfielder Crepulja caught the eye of scouts while Mocinic was being assessed again during a 1-1 draw between Rijeka and Slaven over the festive period and Deila has been informed.

The 22-year-old has played his career in his homeland having started at senior level with Dinamo’s feeder club NK Lokomotiva.

Although he failed to win a deal with Dinamo, Crepula graduated to Croatia’s Under-20 side while playing for NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac.

Fulham and Blackburn both had a look at the holding midfielder last summer, but no move was made.

Crepulja is keen for a move to the UK and, with his contract expired in the summer, could be signed for a small fee of around £300,000 now or on a pre-contract agreement.

Kristoffer Ajer is on trial with Celtic for a week. (Image: YouTube)

Celtic have other options for the same position at a similar price, with Norwegian kid Kristoffer Ajer taken to Lennoxtown for a trial by countryman Deila and also available at the around half a million pounds from IK Start.